Page 6 of The Song of Sunrise (The Prentice Teller #1)

I only shake my head once more. The thought of nourishing myself while the rest of the people in Goldenpine suffer seems unfair, selfish. Even the notion of chewing through meat repulses me.

“At least take this.” Castor stands up and begins to unpin his cloak, revealing his large, barrel-chested physique. The type that is undoubtedly warm under layers of muscle despite the chilly night air.

I shiver.

He walks, or more like prowls, around the fire toward me, then drapes his cloak around my shoulders. His touch is so gentle and caring despite his formidable size. Warmth lingers inside the cloak, still soaked in his body heat. A soft, involuntary moan escapes me before I can stop it.

His hand stills at the sound, grazing my shoulders before walking back around the fire to his spot.

Castor stares at me from across the flames, his blue eyes and dark hair flickering in the shadows. He is a complete juxtaposition from the golden light of the fire. I pull the cloak tighter around me.

This is the worst day of my life.

Worse than when I woke up on the side of a road with nothing other than two coppers, a bundle of carrots, and a splitting headache.

Worse than the time one of Rosie’s cooks accidentally made a cake with poison berries that had me sick for weeks.

Something deep within me insists that this day will never leave my mind.

I want to hold on to every detail—Marrow’s furrowed brows, Rosie’s wooden spoon, the small, quiet moments.

But, just as fiercely, I want to erase the others—the ones stained with red-tipped arrows, blood, and empty, lifeless eyes.

The war between remembering and forgetting rages inside me as we sit, transfixed by the dancing flames.

“In the morning, we can escort you elsewhere if you wish. Where do your relatives live? Somewhere in Midland, I assume?” Castor asks.

“I…” It’s a simple question, yet it breaks me all over again. A pang of sorrow stabs fresh through my chest. “I don’t…”

I don’t have any family.

“Why don’t you come with us?” Leaf quickly interjects.

He is smiling, though another undetectable emotion glints in his eyes before it’s gone a moment later.

“No need to rush answering, just think about it. We are headed west to the Watch, at least another three days. You’re welcome to join our humble traveling crew.

Plus, you smell nice, which is a major improvement from who I usually am with. ”

Castor chokes and quickly recovers, mumbling curses under his breath.

Leaf continues, “Also, I am desperate for entertainment on the road, so it’s perfect! You can Tell us your favorite songs or stories, and in return, we can give you some material back from our own adventures. It’s a win-win, really.”

“You are welcome to join us, Akemi,” Castor adds somewhat formally.

“There is a relatively large town along the way we can stop at if you get sick of us.” Leaf jabs Castor in the ribs, which he returns at twice the speed.

“I’ll think about it,” I say, genuinely grateful for the offer.

This could be my plan for now until I figure out what to do next.

Travel to this nearby village to find work.

I could serve, or Tell, if they will accept a female Prentice.

Maybe bartend or wash dishes. Something to bide my time until it is safe to travel back to Goldenpine.

Leaf throws his skewer into the fire and stands with a cat-like grace. He extends his hand to me. “Ready for sleep?”

At the mere mention of sleep, exhaustion creeps over my bones, covering them with a proverbial blanket.

I take Leaf’s hand. He leads me to our makeshift shelter: a tarp spread out on the ground with another draped over a low tree branch. Leaf ducks into the tent and lies down, his shoulders tapering to a narrow waist as he curls onto his side, facing the tree.

I stretch out on my back beside him, but instinctively, I begin to inch closer, drawn to the warmth radiating from him. Even beneath Castor’s cloak, the chill seeps into my ankles and nips at the back of my neck.

Sun burn it . I curl up next to Leaf’s back, molding myself around his large frame. He must not be totally asleep yet, because he gives a quick “mm” in approval.

I lie there for a while, listening to Leaf’s steady breaths to the backdrop of crickets and distant rumbling of thunder as the storm continues its relentless assault somewhere else.

A bit later, I quickly close my eyes and pretend to sleep when I hear Castor’s muffled footsteps crunch toward the shelter.

He grunts as he lowers himself down on my other side, closest to the opening.

The heat of his breath tickles my neck, not quite touching, the empty space between us charged.

These Watchers are strangers, and yet… I feel safe.

My eyelids grow heavy, and my shoulders loosen with the weight of exhaustion.

Castor shifts closer behind me, his presence pressing gently against my back in a protective embrace.

My skin hums with the proximity of him, a warmth spreading through me, but I shove the sensation aside, forcing myself to focus on the pull of sleep.

I let my body surrender to the exhaustion and drift into a dreamless sleep.